YOKOSUKA, Japan (July 20, 2021) Commander U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, meets the Rt Hon, Ben Wallace MP, U.K. Secretary of State for Defense to discuss strengthening the U.S.-U.K. alliance within the region. Under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Burns)